88 THE NOBLE SCIENCE. 



out with me upon his best hunter, m the first week of 

 regular hunting, tliat his horse's breast-plate appeared 

 most uncomfortably tight across his chest, of course to 

 the confinement of his shoulders. Immediately dis- 

 mounting, he endeavoured to relieve the animal from an 

 inconvenience so manifest, but, finding the buckle either 

 rusted in its wonted station, or at its extremity, he 

 remounted, coolly observing, with a laugh, that the 

 breast-plate had not been touched since the last day of 

 the previous season, when it was easy enough, and that 

 the horse would gradually work down within its dimen- 

 sions ! Now this was in the month of November, when 

 the horse either should have been fit to go, or should not 

 have been where he was. I forget if we had any sport 

 on that day, but, if we had, I am sure this fat horse must 

 have had reason to remember it. At Melton the thing 

 is, I believe, better understood, and, in many other 

 hunting quarters, the desiderata of condition have been 

 more attended to of late years ; but these remarks may 

 not, I trust, be thrown away upon some of my young 

 friends in the provinces, for whom they are intended. 



CLIPPING. 



The advantages of another most important branch 

 of our artificial system, I mean that of clipping, have 

 been so long thoroughly established that it is needless 

 here to argue the point, as to the utility or inexpedience 

 of the practice. It is not very often that thorough -bred 

 horses will require it; but I may safely venture to say that, 



